Natural Cures for Blackheads

You head into your bathroom and the next thing you know, you find yourself with your face pressed up against the mirror trying to find some way to get rid of those pesky blackheads. While no one else probably notices your blackheads…ever, they are an annoying facial malady that is actually fairly easy to remedy. Some of the best natural cures for blackheads are apple cider vinegar, aspirin and honey, and lemon juice.

What Are Blackheads Anyway?

You obviously know what a blackhead looks like – a small dark spot on your skin – but what exactly is a blackhead? Blackheads form at the openings in your skin known as pores or follicles. These openings can become clogged with debris like dead skin cells and dirt, bacteria, and oil. A blackhead is considered the first stage of acne because it is the result when your pores become clogged and exposed to air. The dark color characteristic of these blemishes is due to oxidation – when the debris and pigment in the pore is exposed to air, it turns dark.

Can I Get Rid of Clogged Pores Naturally?

The main goal for treating blackheads is cleaning out your pores. If you can find an effective way to cleanse your pores, then you’ll be able to get rid of this condition. Some of the most effective blackhead treatments we have found include apple cider vinegar, aspirin and honey, and lemon juice.

1. Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar is a natural treatment option that is basically just fermented apple juice. However, ACV contains approximately 4 to 8% acetic acid. The acid in ACV helps to breakdown tough buildup in your skin and also balances the pH in your body to prevent further blackhead and acne issues. You can use apple cider vinegar on your skin as a daily toner and even drink 2 to 3 tablespoons diluted in water for a cleansing tonic for your whole body.

2. Aspirin and Honey

Aspirin contains an active ingredient that is related to salicylic acid. This acid is regularly used to dissolve the buildup that causes blackheads and stretches pores. Aspirin works in the same way, and honey functions as a nourishing binder to hold this treatment in place. To use this option, dissolve two large aspirin in a few drops of warm water and then add a tablespoon of organic honey. Mix to create a paste and then gently apply it to your skin. Allow it to set for 15 minutes and the rinse with warm water.

3. Lemon Juice

Lemon juice has natural antibacterial properties and is an effective exfoliant. The citric acid in lemon juice breaks down stubborn buildup and helps naturally loosen clogged pores or blackheads. Simply apply a few drops of lemon juice to the affected areas before you go to bed and let it soak overnight. Wash it off in the morning and follow your normal cleansing routine.

Blackheads may seem difficult to treat, but these options make it simple. Give them a try and let us know how these natural blackhead remedies work for you! Or continue reading below for more interesting suggestions from our readers!

Apple Cider Vinegar

Eighteen months ago I started oil pulling for one month, then had a breakout of black & whiteheads. I have tried Apple Cider Vinegar & hydrogen peroxide cleansing, I have now started drinking Apple Cider Vinegar over the last 6 months. However, the whiteheads have increased, what should I do next?

Every night, I apply undiluted ACV (organic unfiltered is best but the grocery store stuff will work in a pinch) to my face with a cotton ball. I don't wear makeup on most days, so I usually don't wash my face. I wear mineral makeup, which doesn't clog my pores, on days I bother, so I can get still away with not washing my face. When it dries, it's important to apply a good moisturizer because dry skin can clog pores when it mixes with sebum. I use either extra virgin coconut oil or a mix of 50% castor oil (the cheap pharmacy stuff will work) and 50% extra virgin olive, jojoba, or hemp oil.

This may not get rid of stubborn blackheads, so once or twice a week, I wash my face with medicated apricot scrub (St. Ive's will work, but I just use the store brand) and Dr. Bronner's peppermint. To a dime size dollop of facial scrub, I add a few drops of Dr. Bronner's peppermint soap, then apply to wet face and scrub in circular motion for at least 1 minute, then rinse and apply moisturizer.

It's also important to eat a healthy diet with plenty of vegetables and keep sugar, dairy, and wheat to a minimum (I am on the paleo diet with one splurge day a week). Overall, this routine has completely cleared up my face except for maybe one or two pimples near my menstrual cycle.

Have you ever used Bentonite clay (green clay) to apply as a mask to get rid of blackheads? I have found to be very effective as a cleanse. Also on the bottle of Bentonite I have, it talks of the use of the clay by also using a capful of ACV to make the mask as very beneficial also. That fits in with your ACV usage.

Apple cider vinegar works to clear out my blackheads and help shrink my pores. After washing your face, apply the ACV. Wait for it to dry before applying moisturizer. If you are using ACV for the first time, you may want to dilute it with some water as it may be too strong for your face. I do this once a day and within a few weeks my pores look so much better. I have used so many commercial products and this works the best and it so much cheaper that the commerical products. Good luck.

I've not only had blackheads, but also whiteheads and a bumpy face. After having used ACV after my regular facial cleanser, and moisturizing with Coconut Oil for 5 days, not only are my blackheads gone, but also the whiteheads and the bumps have gone down considerably. I will continue including this in my 'bedtime ritual' as it has worked far better than any beauty products I've tried.

Once you apply the ACV I know you said to let it dry before applying moisturizer but my question is you don't wash it off after it drys? Just curious, I have black heads really bad on my nose. Thanks, Perry Browning

Aspirin and Honey

I'm 30 and have been suffering from blackheads for years. Aside from extraction, nothing worked. Nearly every pore on my face was blocked. Gross. Anyway, I heard about using aspirin and honey as a remedy on acne.org and thought I'd give it a try. I either use two large aspirin or four low dose aspirin and add a few drops of warm water. Let them dissolve (try to use the uncoated kind otherwise you have to peel the coating off). Add about a tablespoon of organic honey to the dissolved aspirin and mix thoroughly. Gently apply the mixture to a clean face (I use an SLS/paraben/prop. glyc. free soap) on the problem areas and leave on for about 15 minutes. The honey helps the aspirin stay put, or else it will just flake off. After the 15 minutes, wet your hands and gently massage the problem areas and then rinse off with plenty of warm water and your hands. Follow up with a moisturizer. I use just plain hazelnut oil.

Borax, Apple Cider Vinegar, Homemade Serum

Posted by Beatrice (Vancouver, Bc/canada) on 01/05/2012

The only thing that has ever helped me to disolve blackheads is borax ( used on wet face as an exfoliator - gentle circular motion and wash off). After that I follow with straight apple cider vinegar ( just a few drops on my palms an tap on my face). Then I moisturize with a home-made serum (equal parts of lemon juice, rose water and vegetable glycerine). My acne-prone has never felt better.

I love your site. Thank you for giving us free access to such great info. I just noticed one of the replies from Mortyscastle under "Borax, ACV and Homemade Serum" remedy. This suggestion putting hydrogen peroxide after using baking soda on your face will burn your skin and could be damaging. Please alert readers.

Castor Oil

After reading about castor oil for reducing wrinkles and improving complexion, I tried it and found that it is wonderful for reducing blackheads and making skin feel soft and clean. What I do is take a facecloth and wet it with hot water. I put the cloth on my face for a few minutes and let the steam open the pores, then apply the castor oil all over my face. I let the castor oil soak in for about 15-30 minutes and then remove it with the facecloth and hot water. After the oil has been removed I then splash cool water on my face to close the pores. This leaves my face feeling clean and smooth. I repeat this process every 3-4 days.

My husband has been plagued with blackheads. I just looked past them, of course but he couldn't. Pore strips were painful and didn't get all the pores clean cause the gunk was in too deep. I did a little research and found that blackheads are oxidized (rancid) oil in the pore and will not be washed out no matter how much scrubbing with soap you do. You must dissolve the oil in the pore with oil! Castor oil works best. Here's what you do:

Smear a thin layer of castor oil onto the nose/blackhead plagued area right before you take a shower. Use nice hot water to steam the pores. Exfoliate as much as you can with a washcloth or body poof towards the end of the shower.

It will take several applications to dissolve the blackheads. After they are gone, it is easy to keep pores clean by repeating the castor oil treatment regularly to dissolve any oil before it turns rancid. My husband's nose looks clean and healthy now!

General Feedback

Posted by Anonymous (Manitowoc, Wisconsin, Usa) on 04/05/2010

Are blackheads a fungal infection? Athlete's foot causes a buildup of dead skin cells beneath the nail. The nail turns yellow and peels. Eventually it is destroyed. Is it possible that blackheads are a similar fungal infection affecting the hair folicles?

in response to anonymous manitowoc, winsconsin- yes u are absolutely right! i am a holistic lifestyle coach and work with ppl including myself to rid themselves of fungus. there is such an ailment called Candida. it is a yeast overgrowth that starts in the gut and intestine and expresses its self as different fungal infections such as dandruff, rosecea, psoriasis, dermatitis, stomach bloating, yeast infections, athletes foot, allergies, ibs, nail fungus. another side effect of candida is that you dont process fats properly so it comes out of your pores. u will never rid yourself of these infections without addressing the roots cause of candida. candida is a precursor to cancer which means if you do not take care of your present state of illness it will at some point in your life turn into some form of cancer. cancer is a fungus! i encourage everyone who reads this to plz look this up and understand it as most ppl have it b/c of excess usage of antibiotic, processed foods, and sugar. i hope this helps :)

To Jenn from Long Island, I understand that naturopathy is a new thing for the modern world, but we need to maintain some degree of scientific perspective. The statement that "cancer is a fungus" is wholly unsupported by any reputable scientific establishment, and even stronger, there is solid evidence that cancer is not a fungus though the two may co-occur, or increase the liklihood of one another, OR even be treated with similar medications. I can treat many things with the same medications but that doesn't amount to saying they are equivalent.

I wholly respect this community and naturopathy, but for it to be respected by others and developed further we need higher standards that are in accord with our scientific process, and I would at least appreciate sources when making radical claims.

If you really think about it science doesn't prove anything! Most science is just trying to out smart nature! You cannot out smart nature I think ever body would agree that regardless of what cancer really is WE cause it WE bring it upon ourselfs from all the bull everybody has some how come to believe it's okay to eat and things we do to out body as simple as putting lotion on in the morning. We are created from the earth we should be using it not going against it. Sorry if you disagree but science means nothing when it come to most health issues it just makes it so complicated when everything is so simple and right in front of your face on the ground you walk on. Earth is the answer whether it comes to a black head or cancer!

After all these years, what has science done in regards to cancer? We have more cancer than ever and look at how unnatural the modern Western lifestyle has become and is spreading in the world. Most of our food is either adulterated or crap and most of us rarely get out in nature except to go to work or shopping. We're too busy on the net or TV or other electronic gadgets. Doctors hardly study any nutrition and more just push pills. I know because my bf is a doctor and he agrees.

I think there is some link with the pimples and blackheads on the body and the high sugar and processed foods many eat all the time. It's like clogging us up and blocking our hormones or something. I think fungus/candida is the root of it. I had what semed to be hidradenitis suppurativa, boils under the breast, on the tummy, in the groin, on the buttocks and even the strange blackheads in the groin area that some people with HS have talked about.

If I took acidophilus capsules, I would have stuff coming out from under my breasts and it was like bread dough. I think it was the dying candida. My whole body broke out in a rash and itched for weeks, an Id Reaction (Autoeczematization): The body got allergic to its own toxins coming out. If you take care of the fungal infection, this secondary ones goes away.

I especially had one groin boil that wouldn't go away from half a year, it would be a marble beneath the skin and them come to head and close back up and cycle like this for months. It was so painful. It disappeared magically one day and all I did was spray an OTC anti-fungal spray on it. In fact, I sprayed it on the other pimple like bumps and they dried up and went away. There is some connect to all of us this HS and candida and bad diets. I don't know why now it's all coming to a head (no pun intended) or why not everyone on a bad diet has this. I do know as a teen I was more prone to acne when I hit puberty, amybe some of us are more sensitive to bad diet over time.

And if some people keep sticking to backwards thinkings and wanting to rely solely on science who looks at medicine as more of a business than permanant cure, we will just keep getting sicker and sicker.

I'm sorry, but "what has science done in regards to cancer"? What about early and more advanced recognition so that someone with cancer can be treated, as opposed to less than a century ago when cancer went unnoticed and just killed the patient. And what about advanced treatment that is saving more and more people daily? Yes, some of the technology we have today is harmful, but hopefully that will change with the much needed rise of alternative energy industries (and hopefully not nuclear energy).

I agree that as a culture we need to look more to herbal or natural remedies, and I even agree that the addatives in food are harmful to the body and rediculous, but losing the scientific progress and abandoning the scientific method would be even more detremental than continuing on the path we are on now.

Cancer is not a fungus. Cancer is a mutation of a body cell so that it reproduces without regard for whether it needs to reproduse or not. A fungus can become an infection, which would damage cells and reak havock on the body, but it is not a cancer.

It's kind of funny this conversation is taking place in the Blackheads Cures section, but I wanted to add my two cents.

I think an increasing number of people in our time have been let down by our current scientific community and our medical community, and as a result, have become mistrustful and cynical regarding them. Too much of our current “science” is backed by people with money wanting a certain result. Whenever I hear that “a new scientific study discovered so and so”, my first question is who paid for the study and what do they gain by the outcome. I'm not against the scientific method. And I don't think all scientists are bad people. I'm sure there are many frustrated scientists wishing they could get funding for things that actually have potential to help people. But more often than not, those scientists are not funded and downright discredited because they will not bring in the desired profit. Apparently curing people doesn't make as much money as keeping them sick until they die. We've been indoctrinated to believe that no major sickness has a cure. All that can be done is to treat symptoms with chemicals that cause other symptoms, causing one to be prescribed even more chemicals to battle those symptoms. Then when the patient dies from all these issues, they call it “natural causes”. And here, that's considered normal.

Yet, I can come to a site like Earth Clinic and find people who have managed to cure themselves of nearly anything you can think of for much less money with little to no side effects. But our scientific community disregards such things and has been taught to look down upon them. Why? When ACV clears out my sinus infection, is that not science? Just because no one paid millions to concoct it in a lab and then charged me an arm and a leg for it, it doesn't count? When a banana peel makes a wart go away, is that not science? Our current scientific community wouldn't take something like that seriously or explore it whatsoever. It would just be discounted, labeled as snake oil and forgotten. And if someone did take the time to study it, they'd be ridiculed, and the powers that be would do their best to get said item taken off the shelves or harder to come by. I'm not against science. But I've become very suspicious of what we're currently told is “science”. So when someone posts on Earth Clinic that cancer is a fungus, I am much more likely to look into it, then just to brush it off because “no reputable scientific establishment” supports it. I no longer consider them reputable. But this is a good thing in my opinion. The more the scientific community disappoints people, the more people will take it upon themselves to do their own research and learn new things instead of waiting for preselected “knowledge” to be spoon fed to them.

Thomas, you express the need for the natural community to gain support and acknowledgement from the scientific community. I think no matter what the natural community did in an effort to gain such recognition, it would not sway the scientific community to acknowledge them. However, I think that at some point, the scientific community will have no choice but to recognize the merits of natural healing because the balance of people who've been let down by science and helped by natural healing will have shifted to the point that the scientific community will be the ones who are frowned upon for the ridiculous exclusivity that has been so prevalent in their studies. I think the ridicule they are so good at dishing out will ironically be their undoing.

Thank you for your post which will help many people, I hope. As an addition, I just want to mention the ayurvedic way of making beautiful skin by using turmeric powder or juice. It is available in detail on youtube. Age old remedy and now being discovered by the West.

Also read: http--www.bioponic.com-pdfs-Turmeric. A favourite of mine. A gift from God. Can be found in India everywhere especially in the temples. Good luck in your endeavour to look like a goddess asap. Om

it is fungus that why Dr. Simoncini can cure it breast cancer in two weeks. Now, think about this every time someone finds a cancer cure, the cure will be purchased by a pharmaceutical company and buried, or the person who found the cure disappears. We have seen this same thing with anyone who created free energy or the guy who created a car that runs on water.... see they could give a rip about better life for people . The name of the game is money. Now the CDC is really self- interest driven and they own patents to the vaccines. This is the fox guarding the hen house. Vaxxed revealed the CDC knew full well that MMR vaccine can cause Autism. so they skewed the number or use a different . test method that really is not applicable for that vaccine . One of the CDC doctor/scientist said that people getting the flu shot were duped. and "It is like telling people to get iron umbrellas in case toasters start falling from the sky! It appears that these company work is self -interest based

Grapeseed, Lavender and Bergamot Oils

Just thought I would share this as I was surprised to see how much it helped me. I ran out of moisturizer and decided to try using an oil blend. After some research online I mixed about 30 ml of grapeseed oil (available in some grocery stores or organic food stores) with about 4 drops of lavender essential oil and 2 drops of bergamot essential oil (available at most pharmacies). I applied it to my face, chest and back every morning (shake before using). It does feel greasy on the face but if you have to apply make-up you could blot after 15 min or so to get rid of the excess. Anyway, I was surprised to notice that after a few days my existing blackheads seemed to dry up completely or were greatly loosened, and there have been no new breakouts of acne in general. I'm in my mid-30s and have had acne all my life so find this quite remarkable & hope it helps someone else.

Lemon

I didn't see a section for lemons or lemon juice on blackheads so I wanted to contribute.

The acidic compounds found in lemon juice are amazing for breaking down oils and clearing up those embarrassing blackheads. I have been using the following remedy for about 3 days now and have noticed quite a difference in my complexion!

I take a warm shower (opens pores) every morning before work and every early evening. After shower, I push up on my nose from underneath to try and clear out as much loosened blackhead 'plugs' as possible.

I then apply lemon juice to a cotton ball and dab it on my nose and around the 'T-area'. It may sting a bit at first and direct sunlight should be avoided for about 30 minutes after applying.

This has netted me substantial results, although people with sensitive skin may have reactions to the nature of the acidity.

Lugol's Iodine

ACV is ok for blackheads, but dries the skin. I use Lugol Iodine solution 5% I applied to my nose overnight every night and in a few days blackheads are gone from my nose. It may burn your skin.To avoid that you can put some facial cream before or after you apply Lugol's Iodine. Hope this info will help some of you. Blessings

Multiple Remedies

Do you want to get rid of blackheads because you have an upcoming date, or else you have a party to take care of, or just simply want the face and nose appear and feel blemish free? Largest is, there are several remedies for blackheads. You'll find sophisticated ways of to get rid of blackheads fast which of course needs you to have a very trip to the skin doctor. Nevertheless, there are simple remedies available which can be done at home. Results vary with regards to the severity of your blackheads, but the good thing about these simple remedies is because are cheap nevertheless effective for a lot of people.

A good way to get rid of blackheads fast is by using a pore stripper. This can take out the blackheads which can be caused by trapped dirt and other oil on the skin's pores. Use a readymade one that can be bought at the drugstore. You may also use washable and non-toxic PVA glue to take out blackheads, especially for the nose, as an alternative. First is usually to open up your pores by using towel that has been drizzled with warm water for a minute or so. Get a small amount of glue, and apply it thinly on the blackheads' surface. Leave it for a few minutes to dry and peel it well afterwards.

Another way to do away with blackheads fast is always to mix a small amount of ordinary toothpaste with salt. This type of remedy targets blackheads on the nose. Use this mixture and put it to use on the nose, leave it on for about 5 minutes before massaging it gently. The next thing is to wash it off with lukewarm water, afterwards apply a piece of ice or wash it with cold water so your pores will close. Utilize a mild toner or moisturizer so that your nose will smoothen and help get rid of blackheads fast.

Another way to get rid of blackheads fast would be to mix an egg white with honey. Before you apply the mixture, make sure to open up your pores by washing the face with warm water. Let it sit for about 10 minutes and wash it well. The mixture removes excess oil that's the reason it is great in removing blackheads. Addititionally there is another way to get rid of blackheads fast which is ideal for people who have sensitive skin, and that is through green tea. Combine teas leaves and teas powder in equal amounts, and after that add a small amount of warm water for a thick mixture. Apply a combination on the surface where there are blackheads by scrubbing. Wash it well with lukewarm water, then cold water, and finally pat your skin dry. This mix is not only to get rid of blackheads fast, but is also healthy for the skin too.

There is no 100% guarantee that they may be effective to all users, but it's definitely worth the try. These remedies to get rid of blackheads fast are made from ingredients which are not harmful to the skin. Regular application or inclusion of these remedies in your beauty routine will help you achieve optimal results during a period of time.

I continue to be amazed with more and more home remedies I try. Last night I made a paste out of baking soda and water to use as a natural exfoliator on my face. It worked beautifully but with a side effect. I did use it twice, last night and this morning. I thought I was seeing things last night but was definitly confirmed this morning after using this paste again just because it was there in the shower. My blackheads are gone! I can't find a single one.

I must add details of my current daily regimine. I use:

- ACV as a toner - if too strong then dilute half with water and use on a cotton ball- VCO as a moisturizer- Turmeric capsules I make myself for anti-inflammatory

This regimine was and still is working great for the last 2-3 months. All three listed above also are great for acne and evening out skin tone. Before last night my acne was gone except these pesky black heads. Two washes with the baking soda paste and my face is completely clear, pores even look a little better I think. Plus when I applied the VCO this time it was oh so smooth. I plan to continue with my daily routine and add the exfoliator in 1-2x maximum per week. My paste was 3T baking soda and about 1 1/2T water. The first time was a bit runny. I forgot to close the lid last night and this morning it was a nice thicker paste. The thick paste will be perfect to use on the rest of my body again no more than 2x a week.

Tea tree Soap

I use tea tree liquid soap (a few drops) directly when washing my face. I just noticed this week that all the blackheads I had have disappeared from my pores. Nothing else in my skincare regimen has changed, so I think this was the silver bullet for my lifelong blackhead issues.